Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 6, 2011

BAGHDIS COMBAT - U.S. Army Pfc. Ben Bradley, left, ducks away from small-arms fire as fellow scout Sgt. Jeff Sheppard launches a grenade at the enemy’s position during a combat engagement in northern Bala Murghab valley in Afghanistan's Baghdis province, April 4, 2011. Bradley is a scout assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace

As Afghanistan Braces for the Spring Fighting Season, the U.S. Hopes Its Preparation Has Paid Off -- Time

A little over a year ago, Kandahar province, like much of southern Afghanistan, was overwhelmed with Taliban fighters and underpatrolled by NATO troops. U.S. forces pushed into areas under Taliban control and in the summer and fall fought bloody battles to hold key approaches to Kandahar city. With the return of spring, the traditional start of the fighting season when the Taliban return from sanctuaries in Pakistan, Kandahar will be a crucial barometer to measure the success of the 2010 troop surge.

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More News On Afghanistan

Top Afghan Official Confirms Talks With Taliban -- New York Times
Afghans report peace talks with Taliban -- UPI

Taliban has strengthened along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, report finds -- Washington Post
White House Issues Quarterly Af-Pak Report and It Still Sounds Like a Mess -- ABC News
US: Pakistan Lagging in Afghanistan War Effort -- Voice of America

FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, April 6 -- Alertnet
U.S. Sends New Elite Forces to Afghanistan as Drawdown Looms -- FOX News
U.S. troops repel Taliban attack at eastern Afghan airport -- McClatchy News
Forces Kill Several Taliban Insurgents -- U.S. Department of Defense
Afghan officials say suspects held in UN attack -- Yahoo News/AFP
Afghan officials say ex-insurgents who had renounced Taliban suspected of shooting at UN HQ -- Canadian Press
Kabul woman dies after collision with UK Nato vehicle -- BBC

Russia, US agree chopper deal for Afghanistan: report -- AFP
U.S., Russia reach final stages of Afghan helicopter deal - paper -- RIA Novosti

Taliban Exploit Tensions Seething in Afghan Society -- New York Times
Some detainees cleared for release still jailed at US military prison in Afghanistan -- Washington Post

'It wasn't my time': Soldier nicknamed 'Headshot' gives thumbs-up as he waits for medical help after being hit by a sniper in Afghanistan -- The Daily Mail
First Female Combat Air Force Team Completes Mission in Afghanistan -- FOX News

Why did Karzai spotlight Terry Jones's Quran burning? -- Tom Peter, Christian Science Monitor
Blame Hamid Karzai for massacre in Mazar -- Terry Glavin, National Post

US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,417 -- AJC